The Rover in Leather Jackethttps://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com
Travel to be better, not to be coolThu, 17 Aug 2017 15:45:45 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/01a3709fb9443169f12f285a09f573b0?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngThe Rover in Leather Jackethttps://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com
Florence’s Oltrarno: a less crowded itinerary for the benefit of eyes, ears and soulhttps://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/08/12/florence-oltrarno-less-crowded-itinerary/
https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/08/12/florence-oltrarno-less-crowded-itinerary/#commentsSat, 12 Aug 2017 21:34:11 +0000http://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/?p=2198Continue reading Florence’s Oltrarno: a less crowded itinerary for the benefit of eyes, ears and soul]]>Along with Rome and Venice, Florence belongs to the group of the “Big 3 Touristic Cities”. Some people complain about the themed park – kind of entertainment the city offers and ask for a more authentic experience. In this article you’ll find what you have to do if you want to avoid the crowds and get a glimpse of Florence’s true Italian soul.

I have recently come back from Florence and after having posted in several social media about my trip, I got asked by quite a few people if I would really recommend it. They were dubious because of the several contrasting opinions they had heard. I was not surprised by this question, as by reading the articles of some influential travel bloggers around the Internet, I have seen quite a few raised brows toward the Medicis’city.

Well, honest opinion? There’s no way I’m going to discourage people from visiting Florence.BUT. I totally get what people mean when they say it’s “too touristic”. There are too many restaurants with sad tourist menus and cheap gelato parlours, but this doesn’t mean Florence suddenly loses its historical and artistic value. You just have to look under the surface and take a bit of time to do some research before visiting: you’ll learn about cultural itineraries that are not that famous nor crowded, but not less fascinating.

Here you are my suggestion:

OLTRARNO, THE AREA ON THE LEFT BANK OF RIVER ARNO

If crowds overwhelm you, focus on the area located on the left bank of river Arno, the so-called Oltrarno. Tourists usually go there to reach Piazzale Michelangelo, from which they can take the classic postcard-pic of Florence and all its bridges, but it’s not all you can do there. For those of you who desire a more “authentic” experience, this is actually a great neighbourhood to explore, as Oltrarno is defined “the other Florence”, the one truly belonging to Florentine people. By roaming around Oltrarno’s districts of San Frediano, San Niccolò and Santo Spirito, you’ll get to see several artisans’shops and “maestri d’arte” who carve wood and work gold, leather and ceramic.

SOME TOURISTIC SPOTS IN OLTRARNO:

Palazzo Pitti and Giardino di Boboli

The most important Florentine palace is located in the Oltrarno’s area and it’s the famous Palazzo Pitti ( € 8,50). Palazzo Pitti belonged to the Pittis, the Medicis, the Lorenas and to the royal family of Savoia when Florence used to be the Italian capital city (1865-1870). The austere aspect of Palazzo Pitti is mitigated by the annexed Giardino di Boboli, which belongs to the UNESCO heritage and is the public garden of the city of Florence.

Florentine people chilling out

Giardino di Boboli (€ 7) is one of the finest examples of Italian gardens and I really love the fact that it’s like wandering in an open museum, where statues and Roman antiquities are scattered across it among hedges and lemon trees.

You can find tubs coming directly from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome and also the famous Prisoners by Michelangelo, that nowadays you can admire near the David at the Galleria dell’Accademia, used to be here. I’ve also heard that it was some sort of “botanic laboratory”, as well as the first place where potatoes were cultivated after they came from the New World!

Piazzale Michelangelo

As mentioned before, Piazzale Michelangelo is probably the most touristic place in Oltrarno. Lots of people climb the only hill within the city to reach this sort of natural balcony upon Florence, where it’s possible to take the classic panoramic picture of the Arno with all its bridges and the most famous monuments in the background. Don’t miss it!

San Miniato al Monte Abbey

This is by far my favourite spot in Florence, not only for its artistic beauty and the wonderful view upon the city, but also for the welcoming atmosphere you breathe in there. The majority of the churches within the city has converted into hotspots for tourists and, as such, you can access to them only by paying a ticket [which is sad]. Believe me, I do understand the importance of collecting money for financing restorations, but acting like this is neglecting completely the Evangelical message (they are churches after all) and the intent of those who built these churches in the first place. So yeah, I’m not impressed.

If you go to San Miniato, though, you will be welcomed with open arms. Why is that? Well, the abbey is run by Benedictine monks, whose rule has always been to greet and help everybody, so, as long as you are not dressed in a bathing suit and you are respectful, you are welcome, no matter which is your God.

Benedictine monasteries and abbeys are quite widespread in Central Italy since St. Benedict was born in the Umbrian city of Norcia (the one that you probably saw in the news as it was hit by the earthquake of last year) and lived and operated in Montecassino, which lies South of Rome. The so-called “motto of St. Benedict”, which is “ora et labora” (pray and work) is followed by these white-dressed monks, who called themselves Olivetans.

The Olivetan Congregation consists of Benedictine monks particularly devoted to the cult of the Virgin Mary and extremely passionate about arts and culture (and you can tell by their environment that they truly are).

What’s particularly interesting and fascinating about this specific congregation of monks of San Miniato is that they give people the opportunity to be spectators of their Vespers, characterized by Gregorian chants. Why is that so interesting? Well, when listening to Gregorian chants you basically go back in time and witness to the birth of the worldwide famous “canto all’italiana” (Italian singing).

The liturgical chants represent the essential core of the Medieval musical art and laid the foundation for the study of rhythm, melody, tone and the theory of singing. Hence the Belcanto.

Make sure to be there at 6.30 pm to listen to these angelic voices: just enter the church and go down the steps to reach the crypt, which is below the presbytery.

Actually going up to the Abbey during this time of the day is the best thing: other than listening to the Evening prayers of the Vespers, you will be able to appreciate Florence from above during the so-called “golden hour”, which is a priceless wonder.

Florence’s view from San Miniato. You can’t actually see all the bridges like from Piazzale Michelangelo, but I prefer this view nonetheless. In front of the abbey, there’s also a small cemetery where some celebrities like director Zeffirelli and the author of Pinocchio are buried.

The reflection of cypresses during the golden hour

Being Benedictine monks also devoted to work, they sell some of their products in their adjacent shop. They make candles and extract honey and they have a chemist that make essences and other stuff for them.

Their honey is very good, but I also recommend you to try their gelato, which is said to be the best of Florence. I have not actually tried all the gelato parlours of the city to verify this fact (!!), but I can honestly say this one is really good: creamy, soft and with a natural colour (not like the fluorescent stuff I spotted around town).

Have you ever been to Florence? Did you visited this part of the city? Let me know in a comment!

At the beginning there was George Clooney that, with his thrilling Hollywood self, blessed the inhabitants of Laglio and brought Lake Como to the attention of the world. What we don’t know or fail to mention, though, is that way before Mr Clooney there were Maria Callas, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier that, as their glamorous holiday destination, preferred another lake of the Italian Northern district, Garda.

Garda, 52 km long and with a surface of 368 km2, is thelargest Italian lake. Since we are in Italy and things are always inexplicably complicated, it is administrated by three different regions: Lombardy on the Western side, Veneto on the Eastern and Trentino up in the North. The favourite pastime of the Garda lovers is claiming which one of the sides is the best and personally I opt for the Western which is hilly and wilder in comparison with the flatter Veneto’s side.

If nowadays Lake Como is well-known among the English-speaking countries, Lake Garda is some sort of “German colony” and it’s quite common, by roaming around the lakeside towns, to find store- and shop signs in the Teutonic language and people wearing white socks and sandals (that’s how we are able to recognize Germans in Italy).

German are definitely lake fans and seem to love Lake Garda with a passion. And I truly understand where all this fascination comes from:

Large choice of fascinating lakeside towns, activities and sport infrastructures;

Amazing views.

There are several ways in which you can explore the lake (if you travel by car remember that the western side is one-way and full of galleries excavated in the rock and that the eastern side is HIGHLY congested), but taking the ferry and navigating the lake in its entirety represents a great opportunity to explore it under a fascinating perspective. The ferries have different routes and there’s the possibility to take the ones that carry the cars aboard.

The ferry trip I will show you today is the one that goes through the entire lake, making several stops, from South to North.

Here you are my trip with pics and info about the various towns we spotted from the lake:

Starting point: PESCHIERA DEL GARDA

A great starting point for a ferry trip on Lake Garda is, without a doubt, Peschiera, which is located on the south bank and from which port is possible to reach every town located on the lake.

Peschiera’s wharf

The ferry boat

I jumped aboard the ferry D’Annunzio, named after a famous Italian author and poet of the XX century, and departed for my little adventure!

Yayy, hoist the anchor, captain!!

SIRMIONE (Southern side – Lombardy)

Located on a thin peninsula on the Lombardy’s side, Sirmione is probably one of the most famous Garda’s destinations, essentially for its thermal station, the Scaliger Castle and its archeological area, called “Grottoes of Catullus”.

According to the tradition, right there it was located the ancient Roman villa of the poet Catullus.

TORRI DEL BENACO (Eastern side – Veneto)

The name literally means “towers of Benaco”, being Benacus the ancient Roman name of Lake Garda. Among the most interesting things to see, another Scaliger Castle of the XIV century which hosts a museum.

BARDOLINO (Eastern side – Veneto)

It is mainly known for the Bardolino wine that takes its name after the town. Quite popular among tourists as there are lots of camping sites.

GARDA (Eastern side – Veneto)

The town that gives the name to the lake. The most famous place in Garda town is the peninsula of San Vigilio, where there is Brenzoni villa which hosted several celebrities like Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Winston Churchill and Prince Charles.

SALO’ (Western side – Lombardy)

Salò’s lakefront

Most famous among Italians for having been the seat of government of the so-called “Republic of Salò”, Mussolini’s Nazi-backed puppet state from 1943 to 1945.

GARDONE RIVIERA (Western side – Lombardy)

Most famous for the so-called Vittoriale degli Italiani, the villa of one the most famous and controversial Italian poets of the XX century, Gabriele D’Annunzio. I must add that he is beloved by Italian students, but this is due to his rather…bohemian lifestyle.

BRENZONE DEL GARDA (Eastern side – Veneto)

I love these colours!

MALCESINE (Eastern side – Veneto)

Malcesine’s wharf

It was common knowledge that Gustav Klimt (that guy of the Kiss, yeah) came here and painted one of his most important landscapes. Too bad that it was destroyed in a fire in 1945
Malcesine is now well-known for its Scaliger Castle.

Fun fact: Goethe came here to visit and while he was drawing the castle in his carnet de voyage, he was suspected of espionage and almost arrested!

LIMONE SUL GARDA (Western Side – Lombardy)

Approaching Limone

I must admit I have a soft spot for Limone. Limone is the Italian translation of “lemon” and by approaching its coast you will actually see lots of lemon trees.
Until the 40s it was possible to reach this fascinating little town only by boat or through the mountains because of its rather inconvenient geographical location (that you can easily grasp from the previous pic).
I bet you’d love Limone too, by roaming around its romantic streets adorned with flourishing bougainvilleas, but most of all once you’ll know about this fact: apparently Limone has the secret formula for a long life *gasp in shock*

Once observed that in Limone there were many centenarians, scientists conducted some studies and discovered that local people possess a mutant form of a protein in their blood that allows them to have a lowered risks of cardiovascular diseases. This “genetic mistake” apparently traces back to a local couple who lived in the 17th century. So, if nowadays scientists are studying new medicines against heart diseases based on this protein, is entirely thanks to this people. Thanks Limone!

I honestly believe that, other than the genetic mutation, there must be something in the air that makes people live longer. Look at this place!

RIVA DEL GARDA (Northern Side – Trentino)

Here we are at the end of our journey! Riva del Garda is at the Northern corner of Lake Garda! Here is what I saw once I hopped off the ferry.

This was the complete ferry route of Lake Garda. I travelled without hopping off at the intermediate stops, but you can obviously decide to stop before. To learn how to reach Peschiera or Riva through public transports, check out this page.

Would you consider to take a ferry boat in Lake Garda or maybe in another Italian lake? Let me know in a comment!

I had not planned to write a post about this, but this week an article published in a news site prompted me to do it (according to their disclaimer I cannot even link it *sigh*).

As you probably already know if you have read the news, the mayor of Florence has decided to put a stop to camping tourists outside the Doms of Santa Croce and Santo Spirito by flooding the steps during the lunch hours in order to “avoid the bivouac of tourists who eat dirtily on the steps […] of religious and cultural places”. The journalist suggested that what in his opinion the mayor really wanted to do was to control how visitors snack and he started with a series of considerations about how Italians attitudes toward food demonstrate our lack of culinary adventurousness and how non-experimental we are. This is not the first time I heard these things, so I wanted to point out our stance on the matter. But first…

…DOES FOOD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FLOODING OF THE DOM’S STEPS?

I’m quite positive that the decision of Mayor Nardella was not dictated by his refined culinary taste nor by the pressure of some phantasmagorical lobby of restaurants. Italians do not eat in gourmet restaurants all the time and do acknowledge the existence of sandwiches. The panino (the Italian equivalent of the sandwich) is quite a common presence in the everyday life of an inhabitant of the Belpaese and Italian tourists do eat packed sandwiches when on a trip.

The swamping of the Dom’s steps does not represent some sneaky manoeuvre against the culinary barbarians who eat sandwiches (!!11!), but a trial run by the city of Florence, made to avoid the scattering of litter on the steps of the church by tourists (Italians included) and to keep the passage free. Just think about it: would you enjoy to see hordes of tourists camping and leaving litter in front of the Lincoln Memorial or the Taj Mahal? I don’t think so.

Just because Italy is “an open museum”, it doesn’t mean people are allowed to camp, lunch and leave garbage everywhere, and mind, this behaviour is something authorities wouldn’t accept even from Italian tourists, it’s not some form of intolerance against foreigners and “foreign sandwiches” (seriously?!) We are intellectually honest enough to recognize that as Italians we are generally not tidy and respectful when we find ourselves in public spaces. So, as I said, this is directed to all tourists, Italians included.

DO ITALIANS IGNORE WHAT CULINARY EXPERIMENTATION IS?

Sorry, but when I read in the article that our dogmatic attitude of mind on food can become “intolerance of difference” and that point has been reached the moment the mayor ordered to “attack” tourists eating their locally sourced lunch with water cannons, I literally facepalmed. Seriously, are we implying that “dogmatic Italians” water-bomb people who eat their local produced food?!

First of all, I don’t see how flooding the steps with water is “attacking tourists with a cannon” and, again, this was not a manoeuvre against “foreign food” (I don’t think the Mayor of Florence will run after tourists with a water-gun if they’ll go eat their packed lunch in a park).

Yes, when you state that as Italians we can be rather protective and vehement in defending our culinary tradition, I do see your point. I fully admit that when I saw pictures of pizzas with pineapple and witnessed to Donald Trump advising Italians on how they should make carbonara, I literally had chills running down my back, but asserting that Italians are non-experimental is frankly incorrect. Let me just give an example.

My municipality is Vicenza, a city which is 37mi from Venice, but that is located in the hinterland, immersed in the hills and surrounded by mountains. You know what our main and most famous dish is? Baccalà alla Vicentina, which is made of cod. Yes, fish. And not from the Venetian Lagoon or the Adriatic See, but from Norway. We have quite the profitable business relationship with Lofoten in the Arctic Circle , that has provided us with exsiccated cod since the XV century.

Not experimental enough? How about bagna cauda from Piedmont? As the name suggests this is a region located “at the feet of the mountains”, but its most famous dish contains salted anchovies which were traditionally imported from Provence, in France. What about the Sicilian granita, a derivation of the Arabian sherbet? I could go on for hours, I swear. Our cuisine is actually the result of centuries of cultural contamination.

You see, when they say that as Italians we don’t accept foreign versions of our dishes, it’s not just a question of arrogance: since we have perfected the art from such a long time, it’s difficult for us to comprehend adaptations which are…approximate? That do not make much sense? You see, when some British people accused us of being “non-experimental and boring” when we criticized their “lasagna sandwich” (I swear it exists), they failed to understand that our was a right confutation: why adding more carbohydrates with bread to a dish which is already full of them and not that easy to digest? You should always follow a logic when experimenting.

I repeat it, I do agree that as Italians we tend to dismiss foreign versions of our dishes and sometimes we can be rather vehement in expressing our opinion (and also funnily so), but you should not consider us childish when we defend something that seems a trivial matter to most of the people. It’s nothing but trivial. Food-making is not something we approach as a mere matter of surviving, it’s an art form perfected during the course of centuries. Art is something which is supposed to bring out emotions and connect people, and this is exactly what happens at an Italian table: when you savour your portion of gnocchi, you remember your nonna that used to cook them for you when you were a child, and by sitting down at the table with fellow guests in a typical Italian fashion, you experience conviviality, which is the capacity of living and eating together enjoying each others’ company. It’s not by chance that several peace treaties were discussed around a table.

Also consider what the logo “Made in Italy” means for us. In an economy that struggles a great deal in this country, Italian food is a precious resource in terms of income. So when we wander around the shelves of foreign supermarkets and we see them packed with items which 99% of the times falsely claim an Italian origin, we are positively enraged. It’s unfair competition and it’s a disservice to our producers. Everyone is surely allowed to make and sell their own version of Italian dishes, but then take away the Italian flag from them and the “made in Italy” logo. And dear foreign producers, don’t claim your pulped tomatoes come from Italy, when they haven’t seen the Belpaese even through a postcard.

Besides, consider that the “food culture” is the subject that brings a fragmented and local-minded country like Italy together, as also our former President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano has stated some years ago. Is it weird that food is what unite a people? Maybe, but that’s how our history worked. Italy is all but a normal country.

So, are we a little bit too protective of our food? Sure. Do our comments on the Internet about foreign version of Italian dishes seems a little too hash? They surely do. But there are cultural reasons behind this kind of vision, which are all but lame. I’m sorry, but concerning this matter you’ll have to be patient with us, make an effort (which, honestly, is not THAT demanding, we are talking about awesome food after all ;P ) and try to walk in our shoes. It’s what we all are supposed to do when we are in a foreign country, I guess. You won’t be required to agree on everything, but you should surely try to investigate the reasons behind a certain mentality. Don’t stop at the surface.

]]>https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/06/11/are-italians-food-nazis-who-dont-conceive-culinary-experimentation-and-fusion-cuisine/feed/14fkasarahawaiian_pizzaI’m one!https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/im-one/
https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/im-one/#commentsThu, 01 Jun 2017 02:44:54 +0000http://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/?p=1885Continue reading I’m one!]]>Let’s celebrate the first year of the blog and see what’s coming next!

Dear friends,

I’m happy to announce that on Saturday I celebrated the first anniversary of my blog, yay! I’ve started to take it to heart only in recent times, but I’m motivated to continue in this journey, to grow as a blogger and to provide you with new content!

As you probably know if you’ve read my about page, I have studied tourism and I’ve worked for a period as a travel agent specialized in incoming services to Italy. Sadly, things didn’t end well: don’t let anyone tell you any different, the tourism environment is a tough world to be in, characterized by unregulated activities and unfair competition and it’s hard to fight these things, especially in a country like Italy.

Even though I have lost that job, the passion for the world of travel and tourism has not faded one bit and, despite the difficulties, now I’m motivated more than ever to portray my personal view on the matter. When working in the sector, but also by just browsing the Internet and the social media, I have noticed how much people see tourism and travel destinations like status symbols, only functional to boast their egos in front of friends and family. I can’t stand that, honestly. Destinations are not products nor merchandise to do be distractedly purchased from a stall, but real and vibrant places inhabited by living people with joys and sorrows that have something to show and even to teach us. That’s where the subheading of my blog comes from: “Travel to be better, not to be cool”. Seriously, I have had enough of people just showing off.

As for Italy, which is probably the main theme of this blog, since the very beginning I have wanted to give the perspective of the “insider”. I have always enjoyed reading the blogs of expats, foreign tourists and Italophiles, because those are points of view which I value very much, especially in terms of understanding what drags people to Italy and which are the values and traits we fail to see as Italians grown accustomed to them. Concerning me, what I wanted to do was giving the perspective of the native that may be less prone to see this country through rose-tinted glasses (nothing wrong with it, but representing the real thing is necessary every once in a while) and that knows spots which are less touristy, but equally charming. I have also thought that an insider voice would be helpful to cast a light on the folkways and the mentality of a people that is all but predictable and easy to understand.

WHAT’S IN THE CARDS FOR THE FUTURE?

I plan to write more posts about:

Italian folkways and customs;

Arts and especially Italian literature, which, I fear, is the art which is the less promoted abroad (ok, #ferrantefever apart);

Off-the-beaten-path destinations + a dedicated page with info on how to reach them through public transportation (it can be tricky moving around Italy and reaching certain spots);

More about yours truly? (Not that I’m that interesting, but learning about personal and family histories is always a great way to be introduced to a foreign culture).

A KIND REMINDER ABOUT WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME ON THE INTERNET

I’m quite active on Twitter and Instagram (where I have also posted my #100ItalyFacts challenge). Very recently I have also joined Flipboard (where I’m enjoying to do press-reviews through my magazines). I also have Pinterest, but I’m kind of discouraged by the recent updates of the platform, which I don’t like. Meh.

Thanks to everyone who has joined me in this adventure! I’m open to suggestions and I will gladly listen to your opinions. Would you like me to write about something in particular?

A presto,

SaRA

]]>https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/im-one/feed/15fkasaraDSC_0039_1How to dress like an Italian: 6 essential style rules locals don’t sharehttps://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/how-to-dress-like-an-italian-style-rules-locals/
https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/how-to-dress-like-an-italian-style-rules-locals/#commentsFri, 19 May 2017 02:42:42 +0000http://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/?p=1822Continue reading How to dress like an Italian: 6 essential style rules locals don’t share]]>Italians are often pinpointed as one of the most stylish people in the world. It’s certainly true that since we are little children, we are taught how to dress properly and according to the specific “environment” we are in, but which are the rules one should follow to look cool “like an Italian”? And is it always fun and simple for us following these imperatives? Read more about it in this article.

I might appear a little bit hypocritical in sharing a post like this, as those who know me well are aware of how much I dread following “rules” or “trends” when talking about the realm of the self-expression. For me dressing is a question of displaying one’s personality, identity and even the mood of the moment. I like in fact to define my personal style as “moody”: the choice of the items and their colours has a lot to do with my current frame of mind and what I want the others to know about me with a simple glance in that precise instant.

Still, I can’t deny that, since I was born in a place like Italy and I have experienced all my life the social expectations connected with one’s appearance, I sort of automatically absorbed all ( ! ) the things to be known about LA BELLA FIGURA (that doesn’t mean I follow them all the time, though).

Here there are the rules in order of importance:

Choose the right shape

I feel like the shape is the concept that makes all the difference for us. Clothes should fit you, without underlining every single imperfection or hanging loosely from your body like a potato sack. One should also realize which is his/her “body type” and choose the clothes accordingly. Most of the Italian women, for example, have the so-called hourglass body type (*waves hand*) and knows they should emphasize their slim waist and conceal their large hips.

2. Less is more

This principle is more like a religious commandment than a simple rule. You are not supposed to overdo with colours, accessories and skin on display. Putting too many colours together, adorning yourself with jewels like you are a Christmas tree and showing off too much of your “physical assets” ( !! ) is not considered graceful. The concept of elegance goes hand in hand with the principle of discretion. In order to be elegant, you don’t have to try too hard: you risk to obtain the opposite effect.

3. Choose the right pattern

Also pattern should be chosen according your body type. Every Italian knows that if you’re kind of chubby, you shouldn’t wear items with horizontal lines that make you look larger. Also a short person knows that it’s good wearing vertical lines that make one looks slender. And obviously…never match horizontal and vertical lines!

4. Tone down

Italians do not usually wear bold colours, as these sort of go against rule n°2. We use a lot of neutral shades and if we have to choose between warm and cold colours, we generally opt for the latter ones, which are subtler. Bright and bold colours might be more indicated for accessories: if you are wearing black, you can bring a touch of colour by adding a vivid belt or sparkly jewellery.

5. Match the colours

One doesn’t need to be Michelangelo or Raphael to have at least an idea of which colours match together and which don’t. Check the colour wheel!

Other tips concerning colour matching might be:

a) choose the colours that fit better with your complexion;

b) wearing accessories (bag, belt, shoes etc.) which colour echoes one of those appearing in your clothes is considered a touch of class.

6. Forget certain clothes even exist

Zebra-pattern stuff (even leopard-print stuff is not always considered “acceptable”);

Capri-pants (as the word suggests, these were pants largely used in Capri. The thing is that they were formerly used only at the beach and that they were longer than the ones you see today. The current ones – cut just below the knee and slightly flobby – are a no-no);

The question of the tracksuit deserves an in-depth analysis. It is acceptable only for the gym or your yoga class. You are not supposed to go even at the supermarket dressed in a tracksuit. You do see people around wearing the top of a tracksuit, but it’s always matched with jeans. I think we have some sort of repulsion for those pants, that don’t fit the legs and kind of look shabby to us.

BEWARE! Violating even one of these rules entails two major consequences:

People staring at you ( especially women who judge your appearance all the bloody time);

Mums and grandmas pronouncing the dreaded stock phrase:

Where are you going dressed like that?

And I assure you, they won’t give up, until you’ll go get changed. Lol.

IN CONCLUSION:

One thing I do appreciate about the Italian “style policy” is that we are kind of encouraged to get to know our own body and to learn how to choose items that actually look good on us. The thing I hate the most is the constant judgement of the Italian women. When you speak to some of them ( I should say “us” since I’m Italian, but I don’t recognize myself in the fashion victims category, sorry), they don’t even look at you in the eyes, because too absorbed in checking and evaluating your “outfit”. Actually I do miss the freedom of going out dressed like an outcast without other people staring at me and gaping in horror.

Dressing like an Italian might be stylish, but sometimes you just don’t give a damn about looking cool. So, consider these rules for what they really are: recommendations rather than laws set in stone. Be cool, but, most importantly, be yourself!

So, what do you think about these rules? Would you follow them? I actually dismiss rule n°4: I discovered how colours can influence the mood and I’m actually trying to incorporate them in my wardrobe as much as I can! How about you? Bright colours or all black? Let me know in a comment!

]]>https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/how-to-dress-like-an-italian-style-rules-locals/feed/14fkasaraigor-ovsyannykov-254187Greece off the beaten path: the unspoilt island of Samoshttps://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/05/06/greece-off-the-beaten-path-unspoilt-island-samos/
https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/05/06/greece-off-the-beaten-path-unspoilt-island-samos/#commentsSat, 06 May 2017 01:39:13 +0000http://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/?p=1650Continue reading Greece off the beaten path: the unspoilt island of Samos]]>Looking for a quiet Greek island with thriving nature and slightly off the beaten track? Samos looks like a great choice. Discover all it has to offer!

I must confess it: I’m utterly incapable of tolerating the heat. The fact that I was born during one of the scariest snowstorms of the century and in a day that, according to an old Italian legend, is supposed to be one of the coldest of the year, probably have helped in that department. When summer approaches, it is some sort of tragedy for me, especially because I live in one of the most damp areas of Italy, the infamous North-East. Heat plus humidity? The recipe for death by suffocation.

For this reason, when talking about summer holidays, even though I do love the Italian coasts, I have some sort of a soft spot for Greece and its islands, which are granted with a fantastic climate, the hot-dry one.

Today I will delve into a particular Greek island, Samos, which I had the pleasure to explore in its entirety a couple of years ago.

Samos is the right island for you if:

You’re gonna spend your holidays with family/kids;

You’re looking for an unspoilt and not crowded Greek island;

While you enjoy the beach, you also like to delve into the cultural offer of a destination;

You like sports;

You’re not particularly interested in the nightlife.

Perks of Samos:

Variety of beaches

You can find beaches with sand, gravel and pebbles. Choose the typology that you prefer!

Sand beach, Ireon.

Gravel beach, Posidonio Bay

Pebbles beach, Mikali.

It’s unspoilt and thriving

If you enjoy nature, Samos is a great choice as it is not as rocky as most of its sister-islands. The woods sometimes reach the coastline!

Things to do

Sports

The Northern part of the island is quite windy, so it represents a great place for kite-surfing.

Another curious fact is that Samos is the Greek island with the highest mountain (Mount Kerkis) and by exploring around you can tell it’s a good place for hiking and even climbing.

Cultural and experiential activities

There are archaeological spots protected by Unesco around the area of Pythagorion and Heraion (here you can find the temple of the goddess Hera, that, according to the myth, was born in Samos), but if you are more interested in joining the locals and see how they live, I’d suggest you to explore the ceramic area of Koumaradei and see how pots are made. Here you can also buy the authentic souvenir of the island, the famous Cup of Pythagoras.

Another great experience is touring the monasteries of the island: they are quite a few and are great places where to enjoy some peace and quiet and see how orthodox people live their spiritual life. Just remember to be respectful and to dress properly ( no tops or shorts) when entering these places.

Spiliani Monastery, near Pythagorion.

Personal Favorites

Western Psili Ammos beach and neighbourhood

There are two beaches named Psili Ammos on the island, but the one I prefer is located on the South-Western coast. It’s a long sand beach and I remember enjoying a great meal in a tavern nearby, under a small pine grove with a gentle breeze blowing from the sea.

Not very far from this beach (I don’t recall if this place has a specific denomination), there’s this marvellous bay, which colours are outstanding. A great corner of the island without any sort of doubt!

Kokkari, the most instagrammed (is it even a word?)

Small seaports always exude a peculiar charm. Once a village of fishermen, Kokkari is now a fascinating tourist destination, which has luckily maintained its unique personality and natural beauty.

One of the most instagrammed (?) places in Kokkari

Romantic and colourful restaurant on the quayside.

Pythagorion, the natal town of Pythagoras

Pythagorion is most famous for its illustrious citizen, the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. There’s even a sculpture dedicated to him, that reminds the famous (and most hated by students) theorem.

I particularly loved walking along its harbour and sunny streets and hiking up the hill just behind the city, where there is the Spiliani Monastery, which is a privileged point of observation for admiring Pythagorion.

View of Pythagorion from Spiliani Monastery

Another location that I enjoyed a lot was represented by the ruins of Lykourgos Logotetis’ Castle. It is an inspiring spot for photographers, since it seems to be the reign of ravens that, as soon as you set foot in their territory, start to fly in circles as to intimidate you.

The ruins perched over the sea and the rasping caws of the ravens gave the place a sense of creepiness and disquiet that I enjoyed (yes, I’m weird like that).

Conclusion

When I travel I personally love to search for a teaching or a message that specific location has to convey. In Samos I was able to learn some interesting things about happiness in life. If you’re interested, read what I discovered and let me know your point of view. Sometimes I find myself going back to that post to remind myself to breathe and take it easy.

Have you visited Greece? Do you enjoy the secluded islands or do you prefer the crowds and the nightlife? Let me know in a comment!

Loving her perspective on “the sweet life”, I have decided to take part in her #dolcevitabloggers linkup and I invite you to do the same if you have something to share about the topic of focusing on the good in life.

SEVEN SIMPLE PROMPTS: TASTE THE SWEET LIFE

AN EPIPHANY

It sounds like a contradiction, but lately I have come to realize that I have pretty much always loved myself, but I have never truly believed in my capabilities. I mean, I have never been the coolest or the most admired girl in town, but I have never wanted to change for the mere reason of pleasing others. I have always been fascinated by the diversity of people and for me the concept of adjusting just for the sake of it has always been literally terrifying. Not having a personality and specific tastes is very unsexy if you ask me. So I have always liked to think outside of the box and to assert myself as an individual.

The problem has always been believing in my capabilities, though, as I was very hard on myself and I never truly believed I was good enough to deal with certain tasks. Until a couples of years ago, for example, I wasn’t even confident enough to write in English on the Internet, because I was afraid of mistakes. Recently, though, I have realized that we should allow ourselves the luxury of making mistakes as those are much useful than successes. Life is work in progress and sometimes we can learn only by doing or trying to do and it doesn’t make much sense to wait until one feels ready. We are never truly ready in life.

SOMEONE WHO INSPIRED YOU

This is very Italian of me, but if I have to indicate someone who really inspires me, I have to say my MUM.

You might have heard about the myth of the Italian “mammoni” and the worshipping of the mother figure in my country, but the state of affairs of the mother-son/daughter relationship is much more layered and complicated than you’d expect.

In our society the mother might be highly regarded and even protected by the law in cases of divorce or kid’s custody, but she surely has an hard time in the everyday life. The Italian society is still quite sexist, but at the same time it’s the woman who wears the pants and has to cope with work and family, both very demanding as there is not a public support system.

In my case I have been lucky enough to have male figures in my family who have always been respectful, helpful and really a positive example, but I consider my mother some sort of superwoman nonetheless. She has always been able to deal with work, family and to gave to my brother and me a balanced upbringing, without being too strict or Italian-style anxious. I’m grateful that she always listened to me and never dismissed my problems as a teenager. Thanks to her I learned to love myself and to fight the bullies I met at school.

Next month it will be Mother’s Day in Italy and I plan on writing a letter to thank her for all the things she did for me all my life. I never did that and she deserve it.

AN ACT OF KINDNESS

I was always taught that one should never brag of a given act of kindness as “the left hand should never know what the right one does”. So, for this point I would like to tell about something I received.

I have to say that I value people’s time much more than material gifts. In this modern society we have less and less time to dedicate to others and actually listen to what people have to say. So I value and consider an act of kindness every time a person uses some of his free time to read and comment on my posts. As bloggers we always read articles about the importance of the “comment marketing” to establish a network and involve readers. These articles, though, fail to mention how authentic human interactions can be and how helpful the exchange between fellow bloggers is in terms of personal growth. The Internet was born as a means to connect, not as a one-way broadcaster. We should never forget that.

A GOOD READ

Several people say it’s hard for them to choose and state what is the best book they have ever read. For me this is not the case as, when in 2000 this book crossed my path, my perspective on life changed forever. This book has stuck with me since then. It’s “Se questo è un uomo” by the Italian author Primo Levi, translated as “If this is a man” in UK and (sadly) as “Survival in Auschwitz” in the US (this last title translation kind of mess with the sense of the book in my opinion). Lots of people don’t want to confront this book, as the thematic of the Jewish deportation scares a lot or makes them feel uncomfortable. But it’s a pity, because it’s not grim and it’s much more than a report of those facts. It’s a book about life, almost philosophical. Few days ago I came across a quotation I wrote down in my journal that will make you understand why I consider this book philosophy:

“Sooner or later in life everyone discovers that perfect happiness is unrealizable, but there are few who pause to consider the antithesis: that perfect unhappiness is equally unattainable. The obstacles preventing the realization of both these extreme states are of the same nature: they derive from our human condition which is opposed to everything infinite.”

It always makes me speechless thinking about how an awful and extreme experience like that could make Levi have such enlightening intuitions about life. I will dig more on this particular subject in the future on the blog.

AN UNFORGETTABLE MEMORY

Do you remember The Secret Garden by F.H. Burnett?

Since I grew up in a contrada surrounded by nature, I sort of had a secret garden of my own. It was a piece of land immersed in the woods with a small pond in it. Every early March it was covered in snowdrops that were able to grow also in the water. It was just a magical atmosphere. Not a lot of people knew about this place and I used to consider it my personal secret garden. I loved to go there even if it meant I had to fight my insufferable pollen allergy. When springs approaches, I always remember those times.

SOMETHING DELICIOUS

I have always enjoyed bread much more than desserts. For me there’s nothing better than fresh-baked bread from a contrada’s wood-burning oven. Who needs gourmet stuff?

SOMETHING YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO

I’m looking forward the day when there won’t be bad and worrying news on the political and international front anymore. Utopia? Probably.

When dealing with any culture in the world, we can assume we become really acquainted with them only in the moment we learn the relative language. A language is much more than a way to communicate, it is the “mirror of the society”, as we say in Italy, since it contains the psychology of a country, the way local people reason and their attitude toward life. On the other hand, when one becomes acquainted with a language, the ability to pay attention to the sound of the words is lost, as we are much more concentrated on the meaning, with the unavoidable consequence of forgetting about the music which is intrinsic into the words. For this reason, when speaking about Italian, I really enjoy reading this series of posts by Ishita: being in the process of learning my language, she is still able to recognize the sound of the words, which, as a native speaker, I automatically overlook all the time (thanks Ishita!)

One thing is sure, though: every language is fascinating and today I will try to list the words I like the most in every language I’m familiar with.

Central Venetian

As I explained in my series of 100 Italian Facts (day 99), the majority of people in my country is diglossic. Diglossia is a particular condition in which a community commonly uses two languages: one for the ordinary conversations in everyday life (in my case Venetian) and the other for the formal situations (in my case Italian). I think we can affirm that Central Venetian is my first language, the one of my roots, even though here we grow up learning local languages and Italian simultaneously.

But let’s talk about my favourite Venetian words:

Ciao

You think I am joking, right? That’s the most Italian of words, you’d think. Well, actually “Ciao” was born in Venice and was later adopted all over the country (and all over the world nowadays!). Its original form was actually “s’ciao” which basically means “[I’m your] slave”. Not very flattering, but hey, you know how referential they were in the good old days.

Bagigio

Bagigio is “arachide” in Italian and “peanut” in English. This is a word that other Italians who don’t live in Veneto find adorable for its sound. In fact it is often used also as a pet name, eheh. I have lately found out that bagigio derived from the Arab. Venetian merchants probably imported this kind of nuts from the Arabic world and they adopted the name as well.

I’m so glad I have chosen two “international” words for such a small reality like Veneto!

Italian

Bambino

This one dates back at the time when I was staying in Ireland after high school to learn English and I shared a flat with two Spanish girls. At the time we hooked up with a group of students from all over Europe and when talking to other fellow Italians in our own language, I often caught my flatmates staring at us with dreamy eyes. They said we sounded “melodic” and they could spend hours listening to us speaking In one occasion one of my flatmates said to me how she loved the Italian word “bambino” (child), since she thought it sounded perfect to indicate a small human being. I thought she was right and since then “bambino” probably is my favourite Italian word.

Strapiombante

I’m a keen reader of mountaineering literature and thanks to this kind of books I came across the word “strapiombante” (overhanging). Strapiombante is not commonly used by people, in fact, when you’re talking about a vertiginous rock face, you usually prefer parete vertiginosa to parete strapiombante. But I’ve come to love strapiombante, it gives more the idea of the peril and the void below. In fact strapiombante contains the word piombo, which is the metal lead, and so it gives you the idea of what happens if you fall from that rock side: you precipitate like lead. That’s the Italian in me, guys, we like to be dramatic and this stands also for the vocabulary

English

Bliss

I haven’t a single doubt about my favourite English word, it is surely bliss. When Muse’s album Origin of Simmetry came out, I was still trying to enlarge my poor English vocabulary and I remember I had to look up the meaning of this Bliss title song, since I had not idea what the hell it was. Once I learned what it meant, I was fascinated and I thought it was one of the cases in which signifier and meaning coincided. Moreover, I can’t help but “hear” the song when this word comes up.

German

Unheimlich and Wortschatz

In terms of vocabulary, German surely is a fascinating language. Besides the classic concept of Heimat and its derived words ( I particularly like unheimlich, meaning eerie but literary suggesting the concept of not feeling at home), I really love Wortschatz, translated as lexicon, but literary meaning treasure of words.

I couldn’t end this kind of post with a better word, I think.

What are your favourite words?Tell me in a comment, I’m really curious

]]>https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/best-words-in-every-language-i-should-know/feed/22fkasaraIMG_20170421_005411[1]Rural Italy: Small Italian Villages at the foothills of the Small Dolomiteshttps://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/04/12/rural-italy-small-italian-villages-small-dolomites/
https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/04/12/rural-italy-small-italian-villages-small-dolomites/#commentsWed, 12 Apr 2017 20:46:44 +0000http://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/?p=1403Continue reading Rural Italy: Small Italian Villages at the foothills of the Small Dolomites]]>The Italian Tourism Department has decided to dedicate 2017 to the promotion of Italian Villages and Borghi: I’m going to actively contribute by sharing info about what I know best, the Prealpine Contradas, small rural villages at the foothills of the Small Dolomites in Veneto and Trentino.

As to continue this small project that focuses on my natal environment, today I will move north and start to write about the suburbs of Vicenza. As I mentioned in the first post about this (sadly overlooked) marvel, Vicenza is a city of contradictions. The umpteenth dichotomy we can find in here is the one between URBAN and RURAL LIFE. If in the city centre we can admire the grandeur of the Renaissance and in the immediate surroundings the activity of the local industry, by moving north, up the hills and towards the Small Dolomites, you will encounter the magical charm of the Prealpine Contradas.

What is a “contrada”?

In Italian the term contrada has different connotations. It can indicate the quarters of a city, like the ones that take part to the famous Palio di Siena, or even streets. In this specific case, though, it indicates a very small rural village, formed by 20-30 houses at most, located on the hills or just below the Venetian Prealps.

Contradas at the foothills of Cima Marana near the border between Veneto and Trentino

A contrada in Valli del Pasubio, province of Vicenza

History of contradas

Contradas were not born from “proper” Italians. Remember, one of the most common misbelief about Italy, is that we are all descendents of the ancient Romans and, as a consequence, all raven-haired, black-eyed and dark-skinned. Uh, well, no.

During the course of history, Italy has always been the final aim of several populations, thanks to its appealing climate and favourable geographical collocation. As a consequence, different peoples mingled and, as a result, the blood of “modern Italians” is quite mixed.

If you will visit contradas, you might find blondish and fair-skinned inhabitants, as the founders of these rural villages were allegedly from Bavaria and Tyrol (Germany + Austria).

During the domination of the Most Serene Republic of Venice, wood was required for the building of the ships. As a consequence, Venetians welcomed Bavarians in the area under their dominion, as they were said to be the best lumberjacks around. The flux of these Northern peoples, started from the X century and continued, through different waves, until the XIV.

Since their task was to provide Venetians with logs and planks, they settled in the woods, ploughing the territory and building their small residential areas made of humble stone houses: the contradas.

Contradas’ inhabitants and their former language

These people who used to come from Bavaria and Tyrol were later indicated with the name of “Cimbrians”.

Since they had settled their contradas in the woods at the foothills of the mountains, they had no contacts with the “latine populations” who lived in the valleys. The lack of communication between the two ethnic groups allowed the cimbrians to preserve their original language for a very long time and, in certain limited realities, it is still present, even though it’s now quickly dying.

An inscription in both Cimbrian and Italian in the Asiago Plateau

But we’re basically talking about a Medieval language, so it’s quite astonishing it was able to arrive in the 21st century!

Elements of the Prealpine Contradas

Communal facilities

Since contradas were far from the city centres, inhabitants had to provide for their own subsistence at least, let’s say, until the end of WWII. Units where they could process agricultural products were necessary, so they usually got together and build communal facilities, like a dairy and a wood-burning oven. Nowadays communal dairies are no longer in use, but people still avail themselves of communal ovens.

“Dairy Bariola built in 1903 and restored in 2006”

A communal oven

Fountains

In an era in which there weren’t functional sinks and washing machines, fountains were fundamental . Not as a decorative element, but for a practical use.

A fountain in Selva di Trissino

Roadside Shrines

Every contrada must have a roadside shrine. For the most part they are dedicated to the Virgin Mary, but you can also find St. Anthony of Padua, a very popular saint in the Veneto region, and other saints, who are supposed to protect the harvest.

A roadside shrine in Staro di Valli del Pasubio, province of Vicenza

Why choosing a contrada for your vacation

This is the kind of vacation for you if:

You don’t expect luxury estates and you support sustainable tourism.

If you approach tourism and travel in a sensible way and you want to respect the local environment, spending some time in a contrada might be a fantastic idea. The hospitality in this kind of environment consists of B&Bs and the so-called “scattered hotels”, those kind of hotels converted out of various historic buildings. This is a concept of hospitality, which is typically Italian and that was invented to revive small Italian villages off the beaten path;

You enjoy biological food produced by local farmers.

The theme of sustainability is adopted also in the food department: you will be able to enjoy local and seasonal products, which are also less processed than the ones we usually eat in the city centres.

You want to relax and stay in contact with nature.

Life in a contrada is surely something more connected with nature and where one could live a more authentic and slow-paced kind of existence. Being contradas located at the foothills of the Prealps, you can enjoy wonderful excursions in the mountains or in the woods, in the shade of ancient and leefy trees and only guided by the peaceful sound of the streams.

You are a mountain lover and trekker and enjoy sites connected with WWI.

Mountain trails are not very far from contradas and since these were areas which were on the frontline during WWI, you will be able to visit trenches, ossuaries and small museums.

You like to learn about mythological stuff.

Being the contradas of cimbric origin, there are a lot of places connected with myths and creatures of the Northern cultures, like naiads (here called anguane) and elves/leprechauns (here called salbanelli).

Notes: don’t expect local people, other than your hotel owner, to speak English and don’t shriek in horror when you won’t find shops nearby your B&B. We’re talking about a rural environment!

This kind of rural realities are to be found mainly in the suburbs of the administrative areas of Verona, Vicenza and Trento in North-Eastern Italy. The aim for the future is to find the contradas which are offering tourist services and to share what I will find in here. Stay tuned if you’re interested!

]]>https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/04/12/rural-italy-small-italian-villages-small-dolomites/feed/10fkasaraHousesItalian villages at the foothills of the Small DolomitesContrada BariolaHorseCimbroDairyBread is ready!FountainStaro, scorcio Molin dei CubbiRoadside ShrineWhy you should put Teatro Olimpico of Vicenza in your travel bucket listhttps://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/teatro-olimpico-vicenza-travel-bucket-list/
https://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/teatro-olimpico-vicenza-travel-bucket-list/#commentsMon, 03 Apr 2017 21:37:59 +0000http://theroverinleatherjacket.wordpress.com/?p=1313Continue reading Why you should put Teatro Olimpico of Vicenza in your travel bucket list]]>Take a look at Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, a Palladian masterpiece to be put among the things to see before you die, but also among the Wonders of the World. No, I’m not kidding.

Talking about your own roots, country and culture, there must be something you’re REALLY proud of, isn’t there?

Well, for us people from Vicenza, this thing is, without any sort of doubt, Teatro Olimpico. We will never tire to talk about it and to suggest to people to come visit it. But what’s so special about it?

It was the “swan song” of Palladio

You remember Palladio, the greatest architect of all the times? Teatro Olimpico was his last work and like most of the geniuses, the final effort was the greatest of all. Like Mozart, who didn’t finished in time his Requiem, or Abraham, who never touched the Promised Land, Palladio never saw his Teatro realized. He just gifted it to the world and let the others complete and enjoy it.

It is the First World Theatre of the Modern Era

Yes, before then, theatres were only located in open spaces. The Accademia Olimpica of Vicenza (literally Olympic Academy, which was, and still is, the major cultural institution of the city ) was the first to request an enclosed theatre, where to play classical pieces. They made a former jail (!!) available to Palladio and asked him to take a theatre out of it. Palladio found a genial solution in order to deal with such a narrow space and realized an elliptical seating area.

It is the only theatre in the world with a fixed scenery

Theatres have movable sceneries that change according to the plays that are portrayed. Not Olimpico. The set design of the first play, Oedipus Rex, was so beautiful that they decided to never change it. It replicates a majestic palace’s facade with three doors that open on the famous “seven streets of Thebes”. The ancient city of Thebes is represented in the form of an “idealistic Vicenza”.

You could experience the famous Stendhal Syndrome

According to literature, the Stendhal Syndrome is that phenomenon that causes an extreme sense of dizziness, because the person involved can’t deal with what he considers a disproportionate amount of artistic beauty. I don’t know if that was Stendhal Syndrome, but I have surely seen flabbergasted tourists, completely in awe, that had to be escorted out of the Teatro (they didn’t want to leave, haha)

The first impact with the theatre, even on the outside, is already outstanding.

The external cortile welcome you in a dreamy atmosphere with its medieval buildings, scattered white statues and snaky ivy enveloping walls and columns in a romantic embrace.

People of Vicenza have free access to the cortile and come here to chill out

With such a poetic image of the exteriors, you don’t expect the grandeur of the Palladian touch that you have on the inside: the “reconstruction” of a classical theatre with a baroque facade as a scenery.

As a final surprise you get the trick of the “accelerate perspective”.

The central arch of the scenery use this technique to make the street represented behind it look longer than it really is.

Teatro Olimpico is a magical place and photos don’t do it justice. Definitely not to be missed.